A Conversation with Sharon Santoni, My Stylish French Girlfriend

May28

Photo provided courtesy of Sharon Santoni

When Dan and I were in France last, we had the delightful experience of having dinner at the home of one of my favorite French lifestyle bloggers and authors, Sharon Santoni. It was a truly magical evening, because Sharon is a gem. So when her new book was released, My French Country Home, I asked if Sharon would consider including Nell Hill’s on her American book tour. Guess what? She said yes!

Sharon will join us at Nell Hill’s June 28, 2:00-5:00, for conversation, wine and a book signing. Please join us – I want you all to meet this remarkable friend, too. To get us ready, I asked Sharon to share a bit about her newest work, and how she lives graciously, despite her busy schedule.

Photo from My French Country Home, by Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: There seems to be a special way the French do life, different than we do here in the United States. What can we Americans learn from the French lifestyle, to make our lives richer and more beautiful?

Sharon: Although I know that many people in the States live rich and fulfilling lives, I have noticed that here in France we put more importance on our food and the time we spend eating it. It’s not only about the food itself and the importance of fresh ingredients, but also taking the time to enjoy even a simple snack. In the same way, we don’t drink coffees or sodas on the go. If we want a coffee, then it is worth taking a couple of minutes to sit down and enjoy the coffee, before moving on.

Photo from My French Country Home, by Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: Dan and I, and our friends, had the most wonderful evening with you and your husband during our visit to your home in Normandy. Before we knew it, it was midnight! What is the secret to making guests feel so welcomed, and making a dinner party so enjoyable, you lose track of time?

Sharon: We so enjoyed hosting you all that evening. We loved meeting your friends, and they had such interesting stuff to talk about. I really hope you’ll come back soon! I don’t know that my husband and I have a secret to making guests feel welcome, unless it is that we enjoy it so much. We love to cook and entertain, and when our guests are as much fun as you, then the evening simply isn’t long enough.

Photo provided courtesy of Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: My sister-in-law Deanna receives your My Stylish French Box, and absolutely loves it. Can you tell us how you got started with this gift subscription, and what your inspiration is for each box of treasures?

Sharon: I feel like the subscription box has been a natural continuation of the pleasure I have in sharing my photos and stories on the blog. The boxes are quarterly, and every three months I put together a small collection of eight high-quality items, as if I were going to gift a friend. We try to follow seasonal themes, and in each box there is a small antique item. We combine objects for the home, beautiful candles, a French cosmetic brand, or maybe a textile. The boxes always smell divine, and we pride ourselves on the care we put into our packing, with satin ribbon and white tissue paper.

Photo from My French Country Home, by Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: Tell us about your brocante tours. What treasures do you find there, and why did you start inviting guests to join you?

Sharon: I started inviting guests because they asked to come! The tours are generally five nights and six days, in Normandy, Paris or Provence. We eat well, we get off the beaten track, we see beautiful homes and we have a lot of fun. My clients are mainly ladies, often traveling alone for the first time, and my aim is to give them a unique and authentic experience of France.

Photo from My French Country Home, by Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: I have found that writing about your life, home and friends in a blog and books can be a very satisfying, exhausting (and even scary) process. What do you love about the process, and what is difficult for you? How does your husband feel about it all?

Sharon: I could never have started or maintained the blog, the books and all the rest without the support and encouragement of my family, and my husband in particular. He is my rock! I’ve always tried to tread that fine line of sharing the best of French living, without getting too personal. I think this is because when I started, I still had children at home and I didn’t want to invade their privacy. Today I love to share my gardens, my dogs and some aspects of my home, but I’m still more comfortable keeping some elements private.

Photo from My French Country Home, by Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: I adore your newest book – it’s just a visual feast. Do you have a section or chapter you are particularly proud of?

Sharon: Thank you! That’s very kind! We shot the book over a whole year, in order to cover all the seasons. There was a lot of fun along the way, but perhaps my favorite shoots were the table laid in the autumn forest, which required a lot of organization, and the picnic by the river. The picnic came together very naturally, it was a beautiful warm day, and once the photos were done, we all sat down with our toes in the river and enjoyed the food.

Photo from My French Country Home, by Sharon Santoni

Mary Carol: We always ask you a lot about France and the French people. Now I would like to ask you about America. What are your favorite things about the United States, and the people here?

Sharon: I love my trips to the States, and I am always bowled over by the kindness and warmth of everyone I meet. I am privileged to travel a lot across your beautiful country and I love the diversity of your landscapes. I always thought it would be fun to write a follow up to my French girlfriend book, “My Stylish American Girlfriends.” What fun that would be to write!

Photo provided courtesy of Sharon Santoni

Next Week … We will visit my friend Marsee’s new townhome, near Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza.

What a gift you are to so many! For me, you are not only one savvy business woman bringing beauty to our homes through the furnishings offered at Nell Hills, but you give so much more. More inspiration, more joy of life, more motivation. Thank you Mary Carol for your smiles, laughter, kind words of encouragement, your faithful steadiness, your friendship and devotion to family, employees, close friends, strangers, and all the rest of us. You do more good than you know. God bless you, dear friend.

LET’S TALK DECORATING

One of the best parts of owning Nell Hill's has been spending more than 30 years talking with friends and customers about their homes. I love to hear what you all are doing in your homes to make them unique, beautiful, a place that fills you up.

As I talk with everyone who visits Nell Hill's, I've found that lots of us face the same decorating dilemmas and are curious how others have solved them... We love to hear about new trends and techniques in the world of interior design...and we are always looking for ideas and inspiration to infuse our spaces with style. So, I decided to start a weekly blog that allows us to dig in together and talk about our homes, decorating and life.

I hope you will enjoy Style at Home! Please, join the conversation and share your ideas, challenges and successes. My best inspiration come from all of you!